Jobs safe for now as Dark Star Scotland goes into administration

Scottish bar, restaurant and hotel businesses Dark Star Scotland Limited has been placed in administration.

The Glasgow-based company operates a chain of 14 leased premises, with the majority located in the West of Scotland, including the Budda bars brand. The business includes four hotels in Aberdeen (two), Ayr and Dunfermline.

Joint administrators Kenny Craig and Tom MacLennan of Tenon Recovery plan to continue trading with a view to marketing the business for sale as a going concern.

Dark Star Limited employs around 280 staff across the business, but there are no immediate plans for redundancies.

Craig said: "Dark Star has a portfolio of high quality bars, restaurants and hotels in good locations that are well-known in their local communities.

"Whilst not immune from the recent economic downturn, the units were performing relatively well and we are confident that the business will appeal to companies already operating in the licensed trade, or to entrepreneurs keen to enter the sector.

"It is therefore very much business as usual whilst we focus on finding a buyer or buyers as soon as possible."

The administration follows that of the other companies within the McKever hotels group earlier in the week.